Sterilization container for surgical instruments or the like

ABSTRACT

In order to facilitate the detection of any unauthorized opening of a sterilization container for surgical instruments or the like having a lower section, a cover sealingly placeable thereon, a locking member securing the cover in position on the lower section and pivotable between a closed position and an open position, and a card-like securing element which can be secured in position on the container and moves into the path of travel of the locking member near to the closed position of the locking member, it is suggested that the part of the securing element moving into the path of travel of the locking member be elastically bendable out of the plane of the securing element and move into the path of travel of the locking member only to such a depth that it slides back behind the locking member when the locking member is pivoted into the open position and during closing of the locking member is taken along with it and is covered by the locking member in the closed position thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a sterilization container for surgicalinstruments or the like, with a lower section, a cover sealinglyplaceable thereon, a locking member securing the cover in position onthe lower section and being pivotable between a closed position and anopen position, and a card-like securing element which can be secured inposition on the container and moves into the path of travel of thelocking member near to the closed position of the locking member.

Such a sterilization container is known from German patent No 35 41 309.The card-like securing element is normally used at the same time as adata carrier, on which essential data concerning the contents of thecontainer and the type of treatment are indicated. The known design hasthe advantage that any unauthorized opening of the locking memberfollowing a sterilization procedure damages the securing element and soit is possible to subsequently recognize every unauthorized opening ofthe container due to this damage. In known securing elements, thisdamage is in the form of a punch mark which can easily be seen on thesecuring element once removed but is difficult to recognize when thesecuring element is inserted and held on the container since it isconcealed by the punching element held on the locking member.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to develop a sterilization container ofthe type described at the outset further such that it can be detectedimmediately from the inserted securing element whether or not anyunauthorized opening of the container has taken place.

This object is accomplished in accordance with the invention, in asterilization container of the type described at the outset, in that thepart of the securing element moving into the path of travel of thelocking member can be bent elastically out of the plane of the securingelement and moves into the path of travel of the locking member only tosuch a depth that it slides back behind the locking member when thelocking member is pivoted into the open position and during closing ofthe locking member is taken along with it and is covered by the lockingmember in the closed position thereof. Therefore, a part of the securingelement which is located in front of the locking member after closure ofthe container is bent forwards by the locking member when this is openedand then slides behind the locking member so that it is covered by thislocking member when the locking member is closed again. This means thatit can be seen at a first glance whether any opening of the lockingmember has taken place. This is ruled out only when the part moving intothe path of travel of the locking member is located in front of thelocking member and not covered or concealed by it.

It is favorable for the part moving into the path of travel of thelocking member to be a tongue protruding laterally from the card-likesecuring element.

In a preferred embodiment, it is possible for a holder for the card-likesecuring element to be arranged next to the locking member, the securingelement being insertable or slidable into the holder following theclosure of the locking member such that the part moving into the path oftravel of the locking member is positioned directly in front of thelocking member. The holder is therefore secured in position, forexample, directly next to the locking member on the side wall of thelower section so that it is located essentially in the same plane as theclosed locking member.

It is particularly advantageous for the part moving into the path oftravel of the locking member to be bent forwardly out of the plane ofthe card-like securing element after its insertion into the holder dueto it abutting on the locking member. This means that this bent part ofthe securing element is particularly conspicuous and visible so that itis recognizable at a first glance that the locking member has not so farbeen opened.

In this respect, it is possible for the locking member to have adeflecting surface, along which the part of the card-like securingelement moving into the path of travel of the locking member isdeflected to in front of the locking member during insertion into theholder so that the user of the container, during insertion, need not payany particular attention to a part of the securing element being placedin front of the locking member since this takes place automaticallyduring insertion due to this deflecting surface.

The holder can have an insertion slot for the securing element on itsside facing away from the locking member, this insertion slot preferablybeing laterally offset in relation to the plane, in which the securingelement can be positioned in the holder. This lateral offset means thatthe card-like securing element can be pushed into the holder only whendeformed and bent and after its insertion into the holder can no longerbe pushed out of the holder in the reverse direction since the elasticsecuring element cannot pass into the laterally offset slot whendisplaced in the reverse direction. This is a safety measure to preventthe securing element being pushed out of the path of travel of thelocking member in order to open the locking member in an unauthorizedand uncontrolled manner. After the insertion of the securing element,this remains in the holder until completion of the procedure and can bewithdrawn from the holder only after the locking member has been opened.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the part of the card-likesecuring element moving into the path of travel of the locking member isconnected to the rest of the securing element by means of apredetermined breaking point and by means of a stronger, flexibleconnection and the predetermined breaking point is designed andpositioned such that it breaks when the locking member takes along thepart of the securing element lying in front of it during pivoting intothe open position whereas the stronger connection remains. This specialconstruction means, on the one hand, that the securing element ispermanently altered due to damage to the predetermined breaking point assoon as the locking member is pivoted once into the open position while,on the other hand, the part of the securing element moving into the pathof travel of the locking member remains connected to this securingelement and so when the locking member is closed again this part istaken along to behind the locking member, despite the damage to thepredetermined breaking point, and is covered by it.

For this purpose, the part moving into the path of travel of the lockingmember can be connected with the rest of the securing element via twoconnecting webs of different widths; in another embodiment it is alsopossible for an opening to be arranged in the securing element next tothe part moving into the path of travel of the locking member, thisopening forming a broad and a narrow connecting web between the partmoving into the path of travel and the rest of the securing element.

In this respect, it is particularly advantageous for the locking memberto bear a lateral extension which engages between the connecting websduring pivoting of the locking member into the open position and duringfurther pivoting thus tears the narrow connecting web.

In another embodiment, it is possible for the locking member to bear amarking member which penetrates and thus damages the securing elementduring pivoting of the locking member out of the closed position intothe open position. Such damage to the securing element, which is knownper se from DE-PS 35 41 309, can likewise serve to mark the securingelement as soon as the locking member is pivoted once into the openposition. Nevertheless, the part moving into the path of travel remainsconnected to the securing element in this solution, as well, so that itis possible to recognize immediately on the container, even when thesecuring element is inserted, whether the locking member has been openedor not.

In a further, preferred embodiment, it is possible for a holding-downelement to be arranged next to the part of the securing elementpositioned in front of the locking member, this holding-down elementbeing located in front of the securing element and securing this inposition in a direction towards the sterilization container. In such aconstruction, the securing element is held in one section near to thewall of the sterilization container while another part is located infront of the locking member. When the securing element is damaged inthis region, for example by an improper, prior opening, this means thatthe securing element protrudes forwards at an angle in the region infront of the locking member.

It is particularly advantageous for the holding-down element to securethe securing element in a position, in which the securing element isbiased in an outward direction away from the sterilization containerbetween the region covered by the holding-down element and the regionlocated in front of the locking member. An undamaged securing elementwill not be essentially deformed by this biasing since the securingelement is secured in position by the holder essentially parallel to theplane of insertion of the securing element. When, however, a section ofthe securing element is ripped or punched out so that this part is nowheld only on one side on the securing element, this biasing then leadsautomatically to this region protruding outwardly out of the plane ofthe securing element, and this is immediately recognizable for theoperator.

The holding-down element can be part of the locking member.

It is particularly advantageous for a gap extending parallel to thedirection of insertion of the securing element to be arranged in thelocking member, the holding-down element which covers the securingelement being arranged on one side of this gap and a part of the lockingmember located under the securing element being arranged on the otherside of the gap, this part of the locking member sliding past thesecuring element when the locking member is opened and covering thesecuring element once the locking member has been closed again. In thisembodiment, the securing element slides automatically into the gap wheninserted into the holder, a part of the securing element thereby slidingunder the locking member so that the locking member, in this case, takesover the function of a holding-down element while the other part slidesonto the locking member. When the locking member is opened, the tearingof the predetermined breaking point is made easier, in particular, in adesign damaging the securing element.

In another embodiment, the holding-down element can, however, also bepart of the holder for the securing element.

The following description of a preferred embodiment of the inventionserves to explain the invention in greater detail in conjunction withthe drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective plan view onto a sterilization container with alocking member closure means and a card-like securing element;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial view of the holder for the securingelement in a section parallel to the side wall of the container;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along line 3--3 with a securing element priorto the opening of the locking member;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 with the securing element after theopening and reclosing of the locking member;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 in another preferred embodiment of alocking member closure means and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 in the embodiment of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The sterilization container 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises atub-shaped lower section 2 as well as a cover 3 which can be placedsealingly on this lower section 2. A closure means 5 is arranged on afront side wall and, where applicable, also on a side wall lyingopposite thereto and not illustrated in the drawings, the closure meansfixing the cover 3 in position on the lower section 2. This closuremeans comprises in the illustrated embodiment a locking member 6 whichis mounted on the cover 3 so as to pivot about a horizontal axis and ina lowered, closed position, in which it is arranged essentially parallelto the side wall 4, engages around a closure element 7 on the side wall4 whereas it releases this closure element 7 when it is swung out to thefront about the horizontal axis. The nature of this closure means is notof importance for the present invention; for this reason, this closuremeans is also not explained in greater detail. It is, of course,possible to use the most varied of closure mechanisms in this case; itis also possible for the locking member to be mounted on the side wallinstead of on the cover. For the present invention it is merelyessential for the closure means to have a locking member pivotablebetween a closed position and an open position.

An insertion holder 8 for a card-like securing element 9 is arranged onthe side wall 4 next to the locking member 6. The securing element canbe arranged in this insertion holder 8 so as to extend parallel to theside wall 4 in a plane which is essentially coplanar to the outer sideof the locking member 6 in the closed position; if required, this planecould also be set slightly back in relation to the outer side of thelocking member 6 in the direction towards the container.

In FIG. 2 the insertion holder 8 has on the side facing away from thelocking member 6 an insertion slot 10 which is set slightly back in thedirection towards the side wall 4 in relation to the plane, in which thecard-like securing element 9 is held in the insertion holder 8 (FIGS. 3and 4). This is brought about in that the insertion holder 8 has an edge11 on the side facing away from the locking member 6 which is bent atright angles and directed towards the side wall 4. Directly adjacent theinsertion slot 10, the side wall 4 forms a deflecting surface 12 whichdeflects the card-like securing element 9, after insertion into theinsertion slot 10, into the plane, in which the securing element 9 isheld in the insertion holder 8.

A slot 13 arranged in the plane of the insertion holder 8 is alsoarranged in the insertion holder 8 on the side opposite the insertionslot 10 and therefore directly adjacent the locking member 6. A part 14of the card-like securing element 9 protrudes out of the insertionholder 8 through this slot and moves into the path of travel of thelocking member 6. This protruding part 14 is, in the illustratedembodiment, designed as a tongue protruding laterally from the card-likesecuring element 9. When the locking member 6 is closed, this tongue ispushed in front of the locking member by a lateral deflecting surface 15on the locking member 6, whereby the tongue is bent at an angle outwardsin the manner shown in FIG. 3.

The card-like securing element 9 has an opening 16 immediately adjacentthe part 14 designed as a tongue and this opening forms two connectingwebs between the part 14 and the remaining area of the securing element9, namely a narrow connecting web 17 and a broad connecting web 18.

The deflecting surface 15 on the locking member 6 is also designed inthe shape of a tongue and reaches with its outer edge 19 as far as intothe region of the opening 16 of the securing element 9 inserted into theinsertion holder 8 (FIG. 2) so that the edge 19 enters the opening 16when the locking member is opened.

When using the sterilization container, the container is first of allclosed by pivoting the locking member 6 into the closed position whenthe cover 3 is in place. Once the container has been closed, a card-likesecuring element, on which data concerning the contents of the containerand the necessary treatment steps can be entered, is pushed into theinsertion holder 8 through the lateral insertion slot 10. The part 14designed as a tongue thereby slides along the deflecting surface 15 ofthe locking member and moves in front of the locking member in themanner shown in FIG. 3, whereby the tongue protrudes at an angleoutwards. It is easily recognizable in this position and indicates thatthe locking member has remained closed.

If the locking member is opened, the edge 19 engages in the opening 16and thereby tears the narrow connecting web 17 whereas the broadconnecting web 18 remains intact. When the locking member 6 is pivotedfurther into an open position, the part 14 which is now connected withthe securing element 9 only via the broad connecting web 18 slides alongthe side edge of the locking member and swivels into the path of travelof the locking member again behind the locking member so that when thelocking member is closed again it takes the part 14 along and covers it,as shown in FIG. 4. Due to the fact that the tongue is no longer visiblein front of the locking member in the manner apparent from FIG. 3 but iscovered by the locking member in the manner apparent from FIG. 4, theuser can easily recognize that the locking member has been openedunintentionally.

If the securing element is pulled out of the insertion holder 8 throughthe slot 13 after the locking member has been opened, it is immediatelyrecognizable due to the torn, narrow connecting web 17 that the lockingmember has been unintentionally opened during the course of treatment.In this way, complete certainty is obtained concerning the treatmenthistory of the container contents, in particular when, according to apreferred embodiment, a sterilization indicator field is also arrangedon the securing element 9, i.e. a field which is subject to a change incolor during sterilization. Proper treatment can first be recognized onthe container due to the fact that the change in color has taken placeand that the tongue is located in front of the locking member. Propertreatment can be recognized on the securing element 9 itself by thechange in color and by the fact that both the narrow connecting web 17and the broad connecting web 18 are intact.

It is also not possible to open the locking member without damaging thesecuring element since the securing element can be removed from theinsertion holder only when the locking member is opened, namely onlythrough the slot 13, since it is not possible to push it out in theopposite direction due to the lateral offset of the insertion slot 10.This ensures altogether the greatest possible security.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, only minor amendmentshave been made in comparison with the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4;corresponding parts therefore have the same reference numerals.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, a surface acting as a holding-downelement 20 follows on from the deflecting surface 15 engaging beneaththe securing element 9. This surface is separated from the deflectingsurface 15 by a gap 21 extending in the holder 8 from the outer edge ofthe locking member 6 inwards parallel to the direction of insertion ofthe securing element 9. When the securing element 9 is inserted into theinsertion holder 8, the deflecting surface 15 deflects the securingelement 9 to a position which is in front of the locking member in theregion of the deflecting surface 15, but behind the locking member inthe region of the holding-down element 20, the securing element 9thereby entering the gap 21. In this respect, the arrangement isselected such that the securing element 9, after its insertion, isbiased towards the outside in the region of the gap 21.

As long as the securing element is undamaged in the manner shown in FIG.5, this biasing leads at the most to a slight deformation of thesecuring element and the part of the securing element connected with therest of the securing element via the webs 17 and 18 also lies in frontof the locking member and essentially parallel to it, as shown in FIG.5.

When, however, the narrow web 17 of the securing element 9 is damagedfor any reason, the biasing in the region of the gap 21 results in thepart, which is now connected to the securing element 9 only via thebroad web 18, protruding outwardly, i.e. it is immediately recognizablethat the securing element is damaged. This also provides a way ofensuring that a damaged securing element is not used, i.e. this resultsin an additional check as to whether securing elements used in theholder are in perfect condition.

We claim:
 1. A sterilization container comprising:a lower section; acover sealingly placeable on said lower section; a locking membersecuring the cover in position on the lower section and mounted on oneof said cover and lower section for pivotable movement between a closedposition and an open position; a card-like securing element positionableon one of said cover and lower section of the container and having aportion movable into a path of travel of said locking member; saidmovable portion being elastically bendable out of the plane of the restof said securing element for placement into the path of travel of thelocking member only to such an extent that it slides behind the lockingmember when the locking member is pivoted into an open position, saidlocking member upon closing causing said movable portion of the securingelement to move along said path of travel such that said movable portionis covered by said locking member when said locking member reaches saidclosed position.
 2. A sterilization container as defined in claim 1wherein said movable portion comprise a tongue protruding laterally fromsaid card-like securing element.
 3. A sterilization container as definedin claim 1 further comprising a holder for said card-like securingelement, said holder being arranged next to said locking member forreceiving said securing element when said locking member is closed, withsaid movable portion positioned directly in front of said lockingmember.
 4. A sterilization container as defined in claim 3 wherein saidmovable portion is bent forwardly out of said plane by abutment withsaid locking member when the card-like securing element is inserted intosaid holder.
 5. A sterilization container as defined in claim 3 whereinsaid locking member includes a deflecting surface for deflecting saidmovable portion of said card-like securing element in front of thelocking member during insertion of said securing element into saidholder.
 6. A sterilization container as defined in claim 3 wherein saidholder comprises an insertion slot for said securing element, saidinsertion slot being provided at a side of said holder opposite saidlocking member.
 7. A sterilization container as defined in claim 6wherein said insertion slot is laterally offset in relation to the planein which the securing element is held in said holder.
 8. A sterilizationcontainer as defined in claim 3 further comprising means operativelyassociated with said locking member for holding said securing elementdown in a position towards said sterilization container, said holdingdown means being arranged in front of a portion of said securing elementnext to said movable portion thereof.
 9. A sterilization container asdefined in claim 8 wherein said holding down means are part of saidlocking member.
 10. A sterilization container as defined in claim 9further comprising:a gap arranged in said locking member and extendingparallel to the direction of insertion of said securing element; saidholding down means covering said securing element being arranged on oneside of said gap; and a part of said locking member being arranged onthe other side of said gap and under the securing element; said part ofsaid locking member being designed and positioned to slide past thesecuring element when the locking member is opened and to cover thesecuring element once the locking member has been closed again.
 11. Asterilization container as defined in claim 8 wherein said holding downmeans are part of the holder for the securing element.
 12. Asterilization container as defined in claim 1 wherein:said movableportion is connected to the rest of said securing element via a firstconnection having a predetermined breaking point, and a second stronger,flexible connection; said predetermined breaking point of said firstconnection is designed and positioned such that said first connectionbreaks when the locking member moves said movable portion when pivotedinto said open position; and said second connection is designed andpositioned such that it remains intact when said first connectionbreaks.
 13. A sterilization container as defined in claim 12 furthercomprising a holder for said card-like securing element, said holderbeing arranged next to said locking member for receiving said securingelement when said locking member is closed, with said movable portionpositioned directly in front of said locking member.
 14. A sterilizationcontainer as defined in claim 13 wherein said movable portion is bentforwardly out of said plane by abutment with said locking member whenthe card-like securing element is inserted into said holder.
 15. Asterilization container as defined in claim 12 whereinsaid firstconnection comprises a connecting web having a first width; said secondconnection comprises a connecting web having a second width; and saidfirst width is different from said second width.
 16. A sterilizationcontainer as defined in claim 15 wherein said locking member bears alateral extension engaging between the connecting webs for tearing thenarrower one of said webs when the locking member is pivoted into saidopen position.
 17. A sterilization container as defined in claim 12wherein an opening is arranged in said securing element next to saidmovable portion, said opening defining said first connection and saidsecond connection between said movable portion and the rest of thesecuring element; whereinsaid first connection comprises a connectingweb having a first width, said second connection comprises a connectingweb having a second width; and said first width is narrower than saidsecond width.
 18. A sterilization container as defined in claim 17wherein said locking member bears a lateral extension engaging betweenthe connecting webs for tearing said narrow web when the locking memberis pivoted into said open position.
 19. A sterilization container asdefined in claim 12 further comprising means operatively associated withsaid locking member for holding said securing element down in a positiontowards said sterilization container, said holding down means beingarranged in front of a portion-of said securing element next to saidmovable portion thereof.
 20. A sterilization container as defined inclaim 1 wherein said locking member bears a marking member forpenetrating and damaging said securing element during pivoting of thelocking member out of the closed position into the open position.
 21. Asterilization container as defined in claim 1 further comprising:meansoperatively associated with said locking member for holding saidsecuring element down in a position towards said sterilizationcontainer, said holding down means being arranged in front of a portionof said securing element next to said movable portion thereof; whereinsaid holding down means secure the securing element in a position suchthat a region of the securing element which is located between a regioncovered by said holding down means and a region located in front of saidlocking member is biased in an outward direction away from thesterilization container.